Research

Obesity is prevalent among both men and women, yet almost all preclinical studies trying to understand the mechanism behind overeating and increased body weight are done in males. This is a problem since males and females, humans and rodents alike, may detect and respond to signals controlling eating differently. We propose that understanding these differences may lead to a more effective anti-obesity treatment.

This translational project will use a combination of behavioral, neuropharmacological, molecular, and genetic methods, to gain insight into the neuronal mechanisms underlying physiological and pathophysiological food intake control in female rats and patients. We propose that key sex differences in the control of food intake lie in the gut-brain communication. Estrogen, steroid hormone, may be a crucial factor underlying these differences. Our preliminary data indicate that female rats are much more responsive to anorexic and reward-suppressing effects of gut hormone, GLP-1, and this enhanced sensitivity may be estrogen dependent. By utilizing a novel GLP-1-estrogen conjugate, which allows for selective targeting of GLP-1 receptor-expressing neurons with estrogen, we will be able to uniquely target neuronal population responsive to both GLP-1 and estrogen, and understand the neurochemical mediators of this interaction.

Ultimately, through understanding the role of sex steroids and sex in food intake regulation, we hope to identify new anti-obesity treatment.